Racing banquets, car shows, and test and tune days fuel fans for the beginning of the 2012 racing season.

The four-generation Matus racing family has long been known for its humor and the Brent Matus family again was one of the highlights of the Lernerville Banquet.

Announcer Dow Carnahan gave Brent a fifth place Sprint plaque. When son Brandon Matus came to the podium to receive his fourth place award, announcer Carnahan said, “Is it wise to finish the season points challenge in front of the old man?”

Brandon said, “Oh, he is easy to beat.” At that point, Brent stopped in his tracks, turned around and headed back to the podium. When his son’s interview was over, he tapped Carnahan on the shoulder and said, “I’m wasn’t done with my interview.”

Then he said, “At the beginning of the 2011 season, mama said, ‘This is our son’s first full season. So if you drive up to his car, don’t pass him and if he tries to pass you, let him do it.’”

He added, “‘It will help develop his confidence.’ “

Meanwhile, Jackie Matus was shaking her head no at the back of the banquet hall as the crowd roared. Let the competition begin!

Jinx over?

A.J. Flick’s mother Laura said his sophomore jinx is over. This will be A.J.s third season in the Pure Stocks and he is ready to do battle.

A. J. thanked his grandmother for coming to all his races and said, “If it took a stagecoach, she would be there on a race night.”

Mark Flick will be driving the Glen Hinkle Modified at Mercer Raceway.

25th and final season

Kevin Shaffer announced that this is his 25th season in racing and it will be his last. The cost of racing has become prohibitive to his family.

Love in the air

Love is in full bloom. Sprint driver Carl Bowser is tying the knot Saturday. He is marrying Kristen Swartzlander. Gary Risch Jr. announced his engagement to his girlfriend Liz.

The ring is unique. Risch Jr. is selling all his big block Modified equipment. His job responsibilities, along with family commitments. leave him little time to race.

Racing Tidbits

I met Tom and Tammy Kelley at the Mills Mall Car Show. They have taken the reins from former promoter Missy Gardina at Blanket Hill Speedway and will embark on their first full season. He still expects to have time to race a ¾ Late Model at Marion Center.

Todd Bachman will return to the Late Model division after a one year hiatus. He hopes that his back issues are gone.

Mercer Raceway Park was the first local oval track to open. Their UFO Late Model race was won by Keith Barbara over Gregg Satterlee.

Trish Riffe will be making her racing debut at Mercer Raceway in the Mini-Stock division. She is the daughter of long time tech inspector, Larry Riffe who has worked at Lernerville, Mercer and Tri-City. He will be the Mercer tech man in 2012 and will also field a 358 Modified to be driven by Rob Curtis.

Bill Beck will once again be the chaplain at Lernerville, Mercer and Sharon Speedways. He was a welder by trade and categorizes himself as the welder chaplain. Beck hopes that all tracks will eventually have a chaplain. This is in coordination with the Motor Racing Outreach that serves NASCAR.

Our condolences to the family of Joan Bertges. Joan passed away in Florida a few weeks ago. She was a columnist for the former newspaper Tri State Auto Racing News and was a co-host on Rappin” on Racin” with Don Gamble.

Former Flagman at Lernerville and Challenger Speedways, Kent Michaels died March 22 from complications after heart surgery. We also extend our sympathy to his family. We just received word that former Late Model driver Gene Pennington died March 30.

Mercer Raceway Park will feature the Sprints this weekend. PA Motor Speedway will kick off the 2012 season Saturday. The Pro-Lates are now competing for $700.00 to win each week and the Late Model Sportsman first place pays $400.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle